Background
He was born in Sussex, and attended Kings College, Cambridge as an undergraduate.
He was born in Sussex, and attended Kings College, Cambridge as an undergraduate.
He then worked in the National Health Service as a Clinical Psychologist before taking a job as a junior lecturer at the University of Liverpool, where he registered for a Doctor of Philosophy supervised by Richard Bentall.
After leaving university, he worked at Street James’ Hospital Leeds, before his professional training in Clinical Psychology at the University of Leeds. Not long after being awarded his doctorate, he moved to the University of Manchester, before later returning to the University of Liverpool. He is Head of the Institute of Psychology, Health and Society at the University of Liverpool.
His research interests are in psychological processes underpinning well-being and mental health, and in particular psychotic phenomena such as delusions and hallucinations.
He has published widely on the role of psychological factors as mediators between biological, social and circumstantial factors in mental health and well-being. He is also interested in the application of such psychological science to public policy.
He was twice elected Chair of the British Psychological Society Division of Clinical Psychology. From 2004 to 2005, and again from 2010-2011.
In that role, he worked with the United Kingdom Department of Health, the British Broadcasting Corporation, the Health Professions Council, the European Union Fundamental Rights Agency and the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics, amongst others
His most recent publications are:
Kinderman P (2014) A Prescription for Psychiatry: Why We Need a Whole New Approach to Mental Health and Wellbeing. Palgrave Macmillan, London. Kinderman P (2014) New Laws of Psychology: Why Nature and Nurture Alone Can"t Explain Human Behaviour.
Constable & Robinson, London.
He has recently launched a free, online, open-access course exploring our understanding of mental health and well-being.